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Editor-in-chief and executive director accused of 'incitement to hatred'

On 9 January, the TUT.BY case will be heard in the Minsk City Court. Ludmila Chekina, TUT.BY Media CEO, and Maryna Zolatava, TUT.BY editor-in-chief, are in the dock. The trial will be held in camera and considered by Judge Valiantsina Ziankevich.

There are at least 1,452 political prisoners in Belarus today, and this number is growing every day. Whole families often find themselves behind bars. Below, you will find stories of imprisoned journalists whose partners ended up in jail, too.

On 5 January, activists of the Belarusian independent trade unions were awarded tough sentences. Journalist, publicist, and political analyst Vatslau Areshka is one of the convicts. The human rights community recognized all defendants as political prisoners.

The trial of Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ales Byalyatski and three other defendants is scheduled to open in a Minsk court on January 5. 

According to the Viasna Human Rights Center, the Minsk City Court will start considering the “TUT.by case” on January 9. The session will be held in camera by Judge Valiantsina Ziankevich.

For more than six months, political prisoner and director of the Belorusy i rynok weekly, Kanstantsin Zalatykh, has remained behind bars.

Mass media in Belarus in 2022. Annual review Repressions against journalists in Belarus, 2021 (chart) Mass media in Belarus in 2021. Annual review Repressions against journalists in Belarus, 2020 (chart)

Mass media in Belarus in 2022. Annual review Repressions against journalists in Belarus, 2021 (chart) Mass media in Belarus in 2021. Annual review Repressions against journalists in Belarus, 2020 (chart)

Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya made a global call to support independent media and journalists on the International Day of Solidarity with Belarus (February 9). February 9 will mark 1.5 years of peaceful protest against violence, lawlessness, and state terror in Belarus. "While the resistance of millions of Belarusians continues underground in various creative forms, independent media are at the forefront of the struggle. Courageous journalists, bloggers, and influential media figures keep up working in the country and exile, despite severe repression and personal insecurity."

A sentence has been passed on journalist, cameraman, and founder of Hookah No. 1 restaurant Ivan Muraujou. According to BAJ, he was found guilty of participating in an extremist formation and sentenced to 2.5 years imprisonment.

The son of detained ex-journalist Larysa Shchyrakova finally returned home, her family reported.

The political prisoner was put into segregation for "being unshaven." Now, he is in a regular cell and is feeling fine, Shtodnya reports. 

Thirty-two journalists currently behind bars amidst continuing legal crackdown. As another devastating year for media freedom comes to a close in Belarus, the International Press Institute (IPI) and our global network today condemn the government’s relentless efforts at prosecuting, jailing and otherwise silencing journalists, as part of a wider campaign aimed at eliminating all forms of dissent in the country.

On 16 December, journalist, local historian and writer Siarhei Chyhryn was detained in Slonim.